scotch and soda is a perfectly good drink. Use the blended stuff though (Dewars, JB). Like the Maker's, it'd be a waste to use a single malt, IMHO.Although a decent blended scotch will cost about the same(or more) as a better Bourbon.

If you like bourbon, why not Jim Beam? Good flavor, and the raw edges disappear in a cocktail (or, more correctly, a highball). As for scotch, Teacher's and The Famous Grouse are blends that are good enough to drink straight. If you're just mixing with soda, Grant's and TJ's house blend are serviceable and cheap.

I've enjoyed bourbon for years. And to me none of them are ever "smooth". They all have a certain alcohol bite (to me anyway). I've noticed though that as one goes up in price to the more expensive bourbons (e.g. Bookers) there is the same bite but there is also a pronounced richness of maple and other syrupy things.